16 Sweet and Scary DIY Halloween Candy Recipes

Halloween is coming up real fast, no doubt about it. All the evidence is there: the Halloween-themed cocktails, the PSL’s annual return, the cozy fall fashions. October 31 will be here before you know it! Like all fall devotees, we’re already preparing for the inevitable sugar coma that will be November 1, but there’s no need to wait for Halloween. Get started early with these 16 spookily delicious homemade Halloween candy ideas.

1. Cauldron Cake Pops: Let’s kick things off with these super-adorable cake pops. The decorating job on these may seem detailed, but don’t be intimidated — all you need to do is pick up some bulk bone- and eyeball-shaped mini jawbreakers. (via Pint Sized Baker)

2. Halloween OREO Candy Bark: Who ever said candy bark was reserved for peppermint flavors and Christmastime? This Halloween-themed bark is flavored with Oreos and topped with candy corn, monster eyes, sprinkles and pretzels. (via A Pumpkin & A Princess)

3. Ghastly Candy Bark: This chocolate-based sweet looks a lot more difficult to make than it actually is. To create the appearance of howling ghosts, simply use a piping bag to place white chocolate atop a layer of dark chocolate while both are still warm. Then, use a needle or a toothpick to draw a tail outward from the ghost’s face. (via The Simple Sweet Life)

4. Ghost Meringues: In other ghost dessert news, these meringues are super simple to make. You only need four ingredients: egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar and some black icing. (via Smart School House)

5. Frankenstein Marshmallow Pops: These adorable marshmallow candies are perfect for serving at your kids’ Halloween party. Bonus creative points for using pretzels as Frankenstein’s neck bolts — the sweet and salty contrast is as delicious as the pops are adorable. (via Just A Taste)

6. Easy Pumpkin Spice Pecan Fudge: You probably already know that we’re suckers for anything pumpkin spice-flavored, and this super easy-to-make fudge is no exception. The pumpkin spice element comes from Nestle’s morsels of the same flavor, and pecans add an irresistible nuttiness to the mix. (via Renee’s Kitchen Adventures)

7. Chocolate Covered Pretzel Monsters: Like many of our favorite Halloween candies, these guys owe their spookiness to candy eyes. They are *ridiculously* easy to make, too. PRO TIP: Don’t worry about the placement of your eyes too much — the weirder and more off-center they are, the scarier these will look. (via Staying Close To Home)

8. Lolly Pop Ghosts: Okay, so these aren’t technically a RECIPE, per say, but they’re easy to make nonetheless. All you have to do is layer some Kleenex over top a lollipop, secure with an elastic, add ribbon and draw some cute little ghost eyes on top. Voila! (via One Little Project)

9. Chocolate Carmel Marshmallows: Do you like salted caramel as much as we do? If so, you’ll love these. Not only are they, well, chocolate- and caramel-dipped marshmallows (which is pretty darn good in itself), they’re also sprinkled with sea salt for extra flavor. (via Domestically Blissful)

10. Strawberry Ghosts: These Halloween-inspired candies are actually relatively good for you. They’re basically your straightforward chocolate-covered strawberries, but with a ghoulish twist. PRO TIP: Use mini chocolate chips, rather than frosting or an edible marker, for the eyes and mouth. You’ll find that it’s actually easier! (via Miss Candiquik)

11. Pumpkin Butterscotch Bark: Pumpkin and butterscotch are a totally winning combination, but they’re not used together as often as they should be. This recipe fixes that, combining these two quintessentially autumnal flavors into one pretty and delicious Halloween treat. (via Fresh April Flours)

12. Candy Corn M&M White Chocolate Fudge: We can’t get over how simply STUNNING this fudge is. The colors of the M&Ms and candy corn contrast sharply with the whiteness of the chocolate, making for a really beautiful and elegant dessert. (via This Gal Cooks)

13. Mini Mice Cakes: To make this uber-creepy treat, you’ll need a mouse-shaped cake mold. Red velvet filling gives these guys a deep red color, and eerie red eyes are the icing on the cake (kinda literally, actually). We also recommend using white fondant for the tail to give them some extra oomph. (via The Cake Blog)

14. Melted Witch Bark: These little treats are SO cute and creative, perfect for serving at your Halloween party. The idea here is to represent the melted Wicked Witch of the North obvi. In addition to a vibrant green pool of melted witch, you’ll also be showcasing a pretzel-made broomstick and an Oreo-based top hat. (via Lil’ Luna)

15. Candy Corn and Spider Web Cake Pops: These guys are so adorable, right?! Make sure to let each layer of icing dry before adding the next in order to keep your lines crisp and preserve the candy corn look. (via Bakerella)

Maggie McCracken is a freelance writer, blogger and aspiring digital nomad. She writes primarily about food, travel, yoga and healthy living, and she has a background in health and science journalism. You can read more of her work on her lifestyle and travel blog, The Olive Branch.